It's gorgeous, and it's all yours

The capitol building is currently undergoing a major renovation and won't reopen until the spring. But its architecture, designed to look like a classic Roman temple, still dominates Capitol Square.

The capitol building is currently undergoing a major renovation and won't reopen until the spring. But its architecture, designed to look like a classic Roman temple, still dominates Capitol Square. (Mike Holtzclaw, Daily Press)

When he's taking children on a tour, Mark Greenough likes to point at the Virginia Capitol and ask the kids, "Who owns that building?"

The answers will invariably start with the president and work their way down to the governor and other people of importance. Finally, Greenough - the supervisor and historian for the guided tour office at Capitol Square - will tell them: "You own that building."

We all own it. If you've never visited, you're missing something.

The Capitol building itself, designed by Thomas Jefferson, is undergoing renovation and won't reopen until spring. Once it reopens, with an underground expansion that will increase its size by a third, it will be a must-see destination. Before then, Capitol Square and the public buildings around it make for an excellent day trip.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, guests can tour the first floor of the Governor's Mansion, built in 1813. A bucket brigade saved the mansion from the fire that ravaged Richmond during the Civil War, but in 1926 it required major reconstruction after Gov. E. Lee Trinkle's son set fire to the Christmas tree.

Adjacent to Capitol Square is the old city hall, the first major public structure the city put up following the Civil War. The Victorian Gothic design is a stark contrast to the stately neoclassical style of the Capitol building. The old city hall was to be razed in the 1970s before citizens petitioned to save it. Because of their effort, visitors can still gawk at its grandeur from outside.

One block east is the current city hall, which has an 18th-floor observation deck that provides a 360-degree view of Richmond. Next door to city hall is the state library - instituted in 1823, it moved to its current home in 1997. The library contains a remarkable record of Virginia history in its books, photos and other collections.

A walking tour of Capitol Square is educational and fun - whether you have a tour guide or just grab a map from the visitors center and head off on your own.

You can view other government buildings from the outside - such as a U.S. appellate courthouse, the Oliver Hill Building that contains the lieutenant governor's office, and the Patrick Henry Building that is serving as the temporary executive office during the Capitol's renovation.

And then there are the monuments. Statues of Edgar Allen Poe, Stonewall Jackson and other prominent figures, with a spectacular centerpiece - the enormous statue of George Washington, surrounded by early Virginia statesmen who themselves are surrounded by figures representing justice, revolution and other virtues of the American republic.

At the center is the Capitol building, remarkable to look at even from a distance surrounded by work crews. This building, home to a legislative body that predates the Pilgrims' arrival, is the where the Bill of Rights was ratified.

As Mark Greenough likes to say, this is an area of "legislation, adjudication, inauguration, commemoration and protestation." And, don't forget, all of the tours are free. After all, you own the place. ?

Note to readers

This week's day trip was scheduled as a trip to the lighthouse in Assateague on the Eastern Shore. However, most of the area's lighthouses are currently closed for the season, so we have rescheduled that day trip for the spring.

Tips

Most of the public buildings are government offices or workplaces, so they are only open Monday through Friday. That said, Capitol Square - with all of its monuments and history and distinctive architecture - is still a nice destination on weekends. The tour office, temporarily located in a trailer to the east of the Virginia Capitol building, is open seven days a week for outdoor walking tours; the visitors center in the bell tower is closed on Sundays.

Consider planning a visit Dec. 10. That's the date for this year's Court End Christmas, when the Valentine Richmond History Center, the Museum of the Confederacy, the John Marshall House and St. John's Church offer free admission. The event also includes seasonal music, costumed interpreters, children's activities and horse-drawn carriage rides. For information, go online to richmondhistory center.com.

When the Supreme Court of Virginia is in session, citizens are encouraged to attend and watch the proceedings. The next time the court is in session will be Jan. 8-12. To check the court's schedule, go online to courts.state.va.us or call 804-786-2251.

Tree lovers, take note: Capitol Square is home to a wide variety of greenery, and if you visit during the spring or fall you'll see some lovely foliage. If you don't care for the trees, then a winter visit offers a better view of the architecture because of the lack of leaves.

Details

Prices: There is no charge for admission to public buildings or tours.

Eats: You can eat lunch in the public buildings. There is an excellent deli located in the current city hall, and a smaller deli in the state library. You can also grab a bite to eat at Chicken's in the Patrick Henry Building. All three eateries are very affordable and offer a nice selection of sandwiches, soups, salads and desert items. If the weather is nice, order your lunch to go and eat at a park bench on the square.

If you want to spend the night: If you don't mind going a little "high end," there are several hotels nearby that will set the right historic tone for your visit. Check out the Commonwealth Park Suites Hotel on Bank Street, which overlooks Capitol Square. Rooms start at about $169. For information, call 888-343-7301 or go online to commonwealthparksuites.com. Or you can stay a few blocks away at the historic Jefferson Hotel, Richmond's only five-star hotel, where during the holiday season you can get a room starting around $205. For information, call 800-424-8014 or go online to jefferson-hotel.com.

For the kids

Capitol Square and the public buildings are surprisingly accessible to kids. The tour guides do an excellent job of connecting with younger students and making the buildings, monuments and history lessons interesting. Most kids who are 9 or older will enjoy this trip.

Similar trips

Looking for other places to tour public buildings? Try some of these, but remember - if they are government workplaces, they might be closed on weekends, so it's best to check beforehand.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Our nation's capital, obviously, has too many public buildings to squeeze into one-day trip. But it's great fun to pick out one or two specific destinations - say, a tour of the White House and the Supreme Court - and make a trip of it.

RALEIGH, N.C.

North Carolina's capitol building was completed in 1840 and was built in the Greek revival style. It would be a great place to visit while waiting for the Virginia Capitol building to reopen.

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Albemarle County's historic brick courthouse is still active after more than 200 years. It serves as the centerpiece to Court Square, which has buildings that date back to the days when Thomas Jefferson was practicing law there.

This is a continuing series of stories, running every three weeks, exploring day trips for Hampton Roads residents. Up next: Our final installment, scheduled for April 8, will feature the Assateague Lighthouse on the Eastern Shore. More Day Trip stories